Big week ahead for Aggies men, women in KC

COLLEGE STATION — Mark Turgeon let out a whoop or something similar on a sprint past the post-game interview room to the locker room after Texas A&M’s victory over Texas Tech on Saturday, and I’ll interpret it as meaning one thing: it’s time for the postseason.

The third-seeded Aggies, who earned a bye in the first round of the Big 12 tournament in Kansas City, will face either sixth-seeded Missouri or 11th-seeded Tech at 8:30 p.m. Thursday in the second round. A&M is 3-0 against the teams this year, having defeated Tech twice and Missouri once.

The No. 24 Aggies (23-7, 10-6) needed overtime to defeat the Tigers 91-89 on Jan. 15 in Reed Arena. Khris Middleton led the way with 28 points, including 11 in overtime. He hasn’t scored at least 20 points in a game since.

Should A&M win Thursday, it likely will take on second-seeded Texas – which must get past either Baylor or Oklahoma – on Friday night for the right to play in the league title game. The Aggies have never played in the Big 12 championship game, but this year offers them as good a chance as any to finally be one of the last two teams standing.

Meanwhile the second-seeded (and fifth-ranked) A&M women will take on the winner of Tuesday’s Missouri-Texas game at 5 p.m. Wednesday. The Aggies won the Big 12 tournament last year in Kansas City, and are likely looking at a No. 2 seed in the upcoming NCAA tournament.

I’ll be in Kansas City starting Tuesday to cover both men’s and women’s action. A&M is the league’s only school with a top-three finisher in both men’s and women’s hoops, and somewhere the heads of Tony Barone and Peggie Gillom are spinning at that bit of trivia.

On the men’s side, the Big 12 tourney is probably going to mean whether we are a 6 seed or possibly move up to 5 or 4 if we win a couple of games. Ku, tu, A&M, K State and Missouri are locks while Colorado & Baylor are on the bubble. Nebraska could make it if they get to the title game.

Since we have beaten BYU 2 straight years, I would predict a 6 seed for A&M with a first round game against an ACC team (Clemson, Va Tech or Boston College) followed by BYU in the second round. BYU might be a 2 seed but the could drop to 3 if Florida stays hot.

On the women’s side, it looks like we get a #2 seed unless we upset Baylor to win the tournament, which could result in both teams getting #1 seeds.

This week isn’t as important as having a good week next week, however, bringing home both Big 12 Tournament titles would be quite an accomplishment.